# Stacking DAO Overview

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What is Stacking?

**Stacking** is the process of locking STX to participate in the **Stacks consensus mechanism**, helping secure the network and earn rewards. It’s similar to staking ETH on Ethereum.

Currently, over 5**00 million STX** are stacked, with an annual yield of **9% or more**.\
You can track live metrics at [www.stacking-tracker.com](https://www.stacking-tracker.com/).
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S**tackingDAO is the leading STX stacking infrastructure for the most prominent Bitcoin Layer 2.**

Originally launched as a liquid stacking protocol, it quickly became the **largest DeFi platform on Stacks**, playing a central role in bootstrapping ecosystem liquidity. Today, StackingDAO is driving the network forward as the **core hub for STX stacking and DeFi innovation**.

Its mission is to empower the entire Stacks ecosystem—from users to builders—by developing the most comprehensive suite of services for stacking and beyond.

The team is actively developing new **BTC yield products** through STX stacking—and will expand to **BTC stacking**once dual staking goes live. In parallel, they’re exploring **MEV** and **restaking** solutions to further strengthen the protocol’s utility and impact.

## Differences Between stSTX, stSTXbtc, and Native Stacking?

<table><thead><tr><th width="277">Features</th><th align="center">stSTX</th><th align="center">stSTXbtc</th><th align="center">Native Stacking</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Non-custodial</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">✅</td></tr><tr><td>Immediate Stacking yield</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">❌</td></tr><tr><td>Continuous yield (Earn daily rewards)</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">❌</td></tr><tr><td>Tokenised representation of Stacked STX  (liquid staking)</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">❌</td></tr><tr><td>(s)BTC rewards</td><td align="center">❌</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">✅</td></tr><tr><td>Auto-compounding yield</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">❌</td><td align="center">❌</td></tr><tr><td>STX Rewards</td><td align="center">✅</td><td align="center">❌</td><td align="center">❌</td></tr></tbody></table>

## How does Stacking DAO compare to other Stacking solutions?

**Custodial delegated stacking pools.**\
Examples: OKX, Coinbase Custody, BitGo, Copper\
These providers take **full custody of user STX** and offer an **institutional-grade user experience**. However, they do **not provide a tokenised representation** of stacked STX. OKX and Coinbase Custody are currently live.

**Community delegated stacking pools.** \
Examples: StackingDAO’s **native stacking pool**, Xverse pool, Friedger pool\
These allow users to stack STX and earn BTC or STX rewards while retaining control of their funds. Like custodial pools, they **don’t offer a tokenised form** of stacked STX.

**StackingDAO’s liquid stacking products (stSTX and stSTXbtc)**\
In contrast, StackingDAO provides **liquid staking tokens** that accrue yield and can be used across DeFi—offering flexibility, composability, and full ownership.

<table><thead><tr><th width="255"></th><th>Custodial Pool</th><th width="155">Community Pool</th><th>stSTX</th><th>stSTXbtc</th><th data-hidden>Custodial pools</th><th data-hidden>Community pools</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Non-custodial</td><td>❌</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>fuoisdjhfuoidshfuiohdsuoifhdsuiogfhrsoiufghjuiodsjhgfjsdfjosdnokjfdskjdsgs</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tokenised representation of Stacked STX (stSTX)</td><td>❌</td><td>❌</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Autocompounding STX yield</td><td>❌</td><td>❌</td><td>✅</td><td>❌</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>BTC yield</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>❌</td><td>✅</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Immediate Stacking Yield</td><td>❌</td><td>❌</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Continuous yield (Earn daily rewards)</td><td>❌</td><td>❌</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>